Jacks stumble in dual finale

The South Dakota State wrestling team stumbled versus
Northwestern 39-4 in its regular season dual finale on Sunday in Brookings.

The Wildcats opened the dual with a major decision at 125
and SDSU forfeited the 133-pound match due to injury. Northwestern led 10-0
after two matches.

After another Wildcat major decision at 141, Dustin Walraven
faced Dylan Marriott in the 149-pound match. Walraven scored a takedown early
in the first period and added two two-point near falls with riding time for a
6-0 lead. Following a scoreless second, Walraven was awarded a penalty point
for Marriott stalling and added a riding time point for an 8-0 major decision.

Walraven finished the regular season with a 23-11 overall
record after two major decisions this weekend.

"He looked great," head coach Chris Bono said. "He is still not one-hundred percent, but we have time to get him healthy and make a move at the West Regional."

Northwestern added a tech fall prior to the intermission for
a 19-4 lead.

Out of the intermission, Joe Brewster faced No. 17 Pierce
Harger at 165. Brewster and Harger battled the full three periods, but a first-period
takedown by Harger was decisive in the 4-1 result.

The Wildcats won the
next four matches by tech fall, decision, major decision and tech fall for a
39-4 dual win.

"I am happy that we saw the seniors off, even though it was not the way we would have liked to see them off," Bono said. "The regular season is over and it is time to get ready for the West Regional and that is all that matters at this point. Hopefully we can accomplish our goals."

Next SDSU wrestles in the West Regional with tickets to the
NCAA Championships on the line. Start time is set for 9 a.m. on Saturday, March
9, in Laramie, Wyo.

"We will do a lot of training and a lot of individual work," said Bono. "We will get guys ready and get guys healthy. We missed Brance Simms in today's dual due to injury, so we need to get healthy and then we will be ready."